Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is ‘sick’ of seeing Sadio Mane not get big decisions from referees.
The Reds beat Arsenal 2-0 on Wednesday night with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino both on the scoresheet in the second half.
Liverpool battled through a tricky first half to then take control after the break, seeing off a spirited Arsenal performance.
This means Liverpool are just one point behind Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title but Jurgen Klopp isn’t entirely happy.
In the first half, Mane attempted to drift past Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
Mane hit the ground seeking a free kick but replays showed there was seemingly no contact from the Arsenal man.
Arsenal fans wanted Mane booked for diving, and Gary Neville did state during Sky Sports’ coverage that he thought it was a dive too.
Mane wasn’t booked, leaving many fans on Twitter absolutely baffled by the lack of action taken against the Liverpool star.
Yet speaking to Anfield Watch after the final whistle, Klopp suggested that he is sick of the situation surrounding Mane.
Klopp believes that Mane never gets decisions from referees and is adamant that the Senegal star is not a diver at all.
The German feels that referees treat Mane differently to players like Arsenal’s Ben White and is calling for more protection for his star winger.
“The situation with Sadio Mane, I am sick of it!” said Klopp. “I just am sick of it that you take a player out of it and they could have done what they wanted, everything. They fouled him and he didn’t get fouled. That was what I was talking about. It was nothing to do with the game. I have no idea. Maybe someone can explain to me why Sadio doesn’t get free-kicks. Don’t tell me he is a diver or whatever, he is not. I know him better than anyone else and he is not!”
“Maybe if he has one, it is not a clear foul but for him it is always like this. Maybe there is only a little contact and he goes down but then you see it in the next five situations, he will not get [a free kick] for the proper fouls
“Whatever you want to make of it, just look at the situations back and tell me that it is not always a foul. Ben White in the corner, Sadio presses him, Ben kicks the ball out more or less, there is no contact but it’s still a free kick for Arsenal. It’s smart from Ben White but if Sadio is doing that, the whole stadium is on their toes and the referee thinks ‘oh my god.’ I am sick of it and that is why I was a bit angry,” he added.
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